Dedicated with Doug Brunt cover image

Dedicated with Doug Brunt

Penn Jillette

Dec 13, 2022
Magician and author Penn Jillette discusses the similarities between magic and writing, the difference between a cynic and a skeptic, the First Amendment, and the potential dangers of technology. He also talks about his new novel, Random, and shares insights into his habits, love for music and art, and the benefits of being an introvert and extrovert. The lightning round of questions includes amusing details about his drinking habits and recommendations for books, TV shows, and acts in Vegas.
34:20

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Performing magic and writing a novel both require storytelling and a sense of pretentiousness.
  • Magicians should empathize with their audience to create powerful performances and suspension of disbelief.

Deep dives

Penn's Early Life and Writing Aspirations

Penn Gillette, known for his role in the magic duo Penn and Teller, shares his background and how he always had a passion for writing. Despite not finishing high school, he continued to enjoy writing and storytelling from a young age. His interest in writing stemmed from his desire to be pretentious and create stories. Writing became a consistent part of his life, even as he pursued a career in magic.

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